[Video] YC the Cynic: "God Complex"
YC the Cynic is an MC out of The Bronx, yet his style isn't really reminiscent of the East Coast. In fact, the first thing I noticed listening to the first single from his upcoming album, GNK, is the similarity of his vocal delivery to Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner," which is... not something I've ever heard in hip hop before. It's a common motif that repeats throughout the song, yet it doesn't overshadow his hooks and verses. It fits over the key-driven beat, which was produced by Frank Drake.
The video itself is a trippy, green-screen heavy video that relies heavily on a rotoscope-esque filter to make YC appear animated amidst brightly-colored clouds and geysers. He might go by YC the Cynic, but "God Complex" is an irony-filled song full of faux-bravado as he lyrically puffs his chest out with a crown on his head to complete the visual metaphor of the titular god complex.
Like a sudden smoke cloud, YC seemingly appeared out of nowhere, but if "God Complex" is a sign of things to come, I don't think he'll be dissipating anytime soon.
http://youtu.be/IgExkn2bUTc
[Video] Calez: "Nobody Else"
Calez lets everyone know that "Nobody Else" is doing what he and the 2008ighties crew are doing at the moment and drops a fitting video for the track. In the self-directed visual, Calez goes from being posted on his sofa, to a lake wearing all red and then Chicago's shore where other 2008ighties members make cameo appearances. Peep the clip below and get that Too Broke Tape (and the G-Unit Bundle Pack) if you haven't done so already.
http://youtu.be/nN5UtCT4MIE
[Video] Rockie Fresh: "God Is Great"
Rockie Fresh has been busy touring around the country and working with his MMG peeps for the third installment of their Self Made series, but for his latest video "God Is Great", Rockie comes back home and hits up downtown alongside the foolies Hollywood Holt, Chance The Rapper, Million $ Mano, Vic Mensa and more. DRE Films did a great job encapsulating the essence of Summer-time Chi at the loop, watch below.
http://youtu.be/2l4FUu1h3ZA
[Video] YP: "I Like That In You"
YP hits Las Vegas to shoot the official video for his single "I Like That In You", directed by Hi-Def. The emcee has one of the most recognizable flows in Chicago and his work ethic is remarkable, don't sleep on his forthcoming Restless project.
http://youtu.be/FLFCowgr0aw
[Video] Vic Mensa: "Orange Soda"
It seems like Vic Mensa has been channeling his inner-Kel Mitchell with the latest video for his song, "Orange Soda." A few weeks after he came out with "Did It B4," Mensa's back with the Verluxe-directed video for the next single from his upcoming mixtape, INNANETAPE. The song has a relaxed R&B vibe with a smooth bass line holding the rhythm down behind Mensa's vocal delivery.
You can check out "Orange Soda" below. Remember, INNANETAPE is coming out super soon, but you can catch Mensa and the rest of the SaveMoney Army tonight at FakeShoreDrive's Red Bull Sound Select show at the Double Door. Information on that is here.
http://youtu.be/ZLp7M5SMBkQ
[Video] De La Soul: "Get Away" (feat. The Spirit of Wu Tang)
De La Soul is back! Following their new motion to release a new song every month this year, "Get Away" gets the music video treatment. Featuring a Wu-Tang and RZA hook sample, the classic group delivers a statement on modern hip hop, opening the song with a strong proclamation: "And like the Wu, we bring it to you in the purest form/ We reside far away from the norms."
The video, which you can watch below, was directed by Lenny Bass and Kris Merc. The group is digital overlaid on a Rubik's Cube while they deliver their verses. There's some really good post-production here with the digital effects used with the Rubik's Cube, especially with how the concept matches the lyrical content. De La Soul's back, and they're ready to take their hip hop crowns back.
http://youtu.be/ZorwKAwqPnE
[Video] Lucki Eck$: "Everything Out$ide"
Lucki Eck$ is in a hot-streak right now, this kid is doing all the right moves at the right time and the quality of his music backs-up all the buzz he has attained in less than a month. He's truly taking the game by storm while approaching the genre from a very unique standpoint, Alternative Trap is starting to feel more and more as a real movement and not just something a teenager simply decided to name his mixtape after. Of course, to have a movement, a strong core of people who will invest 100% of their time to see it come to fruition is also needed. For Lucki, the Out$iders Clique is exactly that and he reps it everywhere, especially in his latest video, "Everything Out$ide", which is an ode to the crew.
Elevator did a great job giving the visual a grimmy feel, but keeping their professional look intact and drawing a lot of similarities to Lucki's music. Check out the video below and be sure to wish the emcee a happy birthday tomorrow. The homie is turning 17 in the biggest way possible, congrats!
http://youtu.be/O3slsRHFzp4
[Video] Saba: "Gurlfran"
Saba is probably your favorite rapper's rapper and with his witty rhymes ("My girlfriend say she sell-a-bit...of drugs) little is left to wonder as to why. The up-and-coming emcee has shown great leaps of progression with every single release he puts out and his follow-up 'tape to GetCOMFORTable should be nothing less than incredible. A quick look at his new set of visuals for "Gurlfran" below will show how more confident his flow sounds and he certainly isn't afraid to get a little trippy!
http://youtu.be/zpXpw5F9vwc